Been trying to search but haven't quite found the answer. Will the front diff out of a 3rd gen truck work in a 3rd gen 4runner? I just picked up a 96 4runner with a 3.4 5 speed. I also have access to a set of axles out of a 94ish pickup that has 4:88 gears in it that I may see about swapping in. I'm trying to school myself on the 3rd gen runners. TIA.

 

All this generation stuff is quite confusing I have no idea what your trying to ask.

If your fabrication skills and tooling is up to speed you can make anything work .

 

The first gen Tacoma was introduced in 1995, slightly earlier than the 1996 third gen 4Runner. Those two models are closely related.

1994 would be a pickup, not badged as a Tacoma, and be related to a second gen 4Runner. A front diff from that would not be compatible in any meaningful way to a third gen 4Runner. Aside from trivia about CV axles and such, the front driveshaft is on the wrong side.

If 1994-ish ends up being 1995, and first gen Tacoma, then you're in better shape. There are still differences, though. I don't think the Tacoma's always got the ADD (auto disconnect) front diff, I'm not sure how much the 4Runner's computers will care about that, but I think they will. The Tacoma rear axle also won't bolt in - leaf springs vs. coil/links, but you could swap the center diff into your 4Runner axle housing.

 

Not sure how this thread just popped up, I posted this a couple months ago. Got it all figured out. I just replaced the rear third with a junkyard third. She's back on the road. Now to figure out the pesky wiring problems in the dash. Thanks for the replys.